Make a batch of this crazy good shawarma seasoning, and it will become your go-to blend for everything, from veggies to your favorite protein. Trust us! Try it, and you will thank us later!
What is Shawarma?
Shawarma is a traditional Middle Eastern street food that has been gaining popularity worldwide over the years. It's a heavily spiced and marinated piece of beef, lamb, chicken, or turkey placed on a rotation rotisserie stick that continuously cooks the meat as the outer layers are shaved off in thin slices and usually served in a fluffy, pillowy pita bread pocket. As with any street food, no silverware is required!
What to Serve With the Food You Spice with Shawarma Spice Blend
We like to prepare a vegan version using our shawarma seasoning with jackfruit, seitan, mushrooms, or chickpeas. Then we serve it with the following recipes:
- This 5 Minute Hummus or to be out of the box with this beet hummus
- Tabbouleh
- Tahini Sauce
- Tomato and Cucumber Salad
- Pickles
What makes this dish so good and almost irresistible is the wonderful spice mixture used to prepare it. The combination of warm spices infuses the meat hveggie meat in our case), vegetables, seitan, chickpeas, mushrooms, or jackfruit with tons of flavor and keeps you wanting to go back for more!
You can also use our shawarma spice blend recipe as a dry rub, add it to a marinade, or use it in a saute. Brighten up any dish you make with shawarma seasoning by adding a dash or two of lemon juice before you serve it.
How To Make The Best Shawarma Seasoning Recip Video
Ingredients for Shawarma Seasoning
What spices are in our crazy good Shawarma spice mix?
- sweet paprika
- allspice
- cumin
- turmeric
- cinnamon
- garlic powder
- onion powder
- ground ginger
- Aleppo pepper or hot pepper flakes (optional for heat)
The best thing about this Shawarma spice mix is that it works beautifully with protein and vegetables! We love it on tofu for our vegan Tacos Al Pastor, portabello mushrooms for our Shawarma Veggie Tacos with Tahini Guacamole and cauliflower. Leave us a comment if you would like to see a shawarma cauliflower sandwich recipe that tastes amazing!
How to Make Shawarma Seasoning
Homemade spice blends like this one are incredibly easy to make. Just place all of the ingredients in a jar and shake it until the colors are evenly distributed. If you are unsure it is mixed, stir it with a fork in the jar. Before using the seasoning later, give it a good shake in the jar.
How to Store Our Shawarma Spice Mix
Store the shawarma seasoning in a glass jar fitted with a tight lid and place it in your spice cabinet or drawer. Use within 6-9 months if it lasts that long...
Variations for Homemade Shawarma Seasoning
This warm and delicious spice blend has as many variations as it does cooks who use it! Coriander, black pepper, cardamom, cloves, nutmeg, and cayenne pepper are all commonly added to this fragrant seasoning.
Recipes that Use Our Homemade Shawarma Seasoning
- Rice Bowl - Chickpeas and Shawarma Spices
- Shawarma Spiced Chickpeas
- Shawarma Veggie Tacos With Tahini Guacamole
- Mediterranean Vegan Sandwich
- Easy Hummus Recipe with Shawarma Mushrooms
Did you like our crazy good shawarma spice mix?
If you enjoyed this recipe, it would help us tremendously if you left us a star rating in the comments below or on the recipe card. Do you have any questions about the recipe? Do you need a swap for any of the ingredients? We are here to help, just leave us a question in the comments below.
Shawarma Seasoning Recipe
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: ⅓ cup 1x
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
Make a batch of this crazy good shawarma seasoning, and it will become your go-to blend for everything, from veggies to your favorite protein. Trust us! Try it, and you will thank us later!
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp sweet paprika
- 1 tbsp allspice
- 2tsp cumin
- 2 tsp turmeric
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp ground ginger
- ½ tsp Aleppo pepper or hot pepper flakes (optional)
Instructions
- Combine all the spices in a bowl and mix well. Store in a glass jar with a tight lid
Notes
This post was originally published on July 18, 2019
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Spices
- Method: Raw
- Cuisine: Middle Eastern
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 teaspoon
- Calories: 11
- Sugar: .2
- Sodium: 5.8
- Fat: 0.2
- Saturated Fat: 0
- Unsaturated Fat: 0.2
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 2.8
- Fiber: 1.5
- Protein: .4
- Cholesterol: 0
Deborah Baumel
I would love your cauliflower shawarma recipe.
Vanessa
This shawarma spice mix is soooo good! And so much better that anything I find bottled in a store.
Sally Harris
I want that cauli recipe too !
Vicky & Ruth
Recipe Coming Soon!
Meg
Amazing flavor! This takes my favorite chicken shawarma bowl to the next level and I can’t wait to try using it in other things. Like cauliflower. Yummy!
Vicky & Ruth
Thank you so much Meg! Enjoy!
Pongodhall
Thank you for emphasizing the vegetables + ideas for them. I would like to see a sandwich idea please, at the moment I do a shawarma hummus, etc. Board or roasted cauliflower in this particular rub.
Vicky & Ruth
We will work on it!
Mayra
Please recipe for cauliflower shawarma sandwich.
Vicky & Ruth
Great Idea! We will work on it!
Susan G
How about using smoked paprika for 'sweet'? Would that give the food an effect like the cooking process for shawarma?
Vicky & Ruth
You could definitely use smoked paprika or a combination of sweet and smoked. Let us know how you like it if you decide to try it.
Rebeca
I love the combination of the spices! Really tasty
Vicky & Ruth
Thank you, Enjoy!
Polly
Hi, Once i have made the spice mix how much should of the shawarma spice mix is good for let's say 1lb of beef or chicken?
Vicky and Ruth
It depends on how spiced you like it. 1-2 tablespoons should be enough. Enjoy!
Ron Torres
This tasted as though I had been marinating it for hours, which I have, so glad I found this and will forever use this recipe!
Vicky and Ruth
Thank you! We are so glad you liked it!
Brittany wilkins
My Lebanese mother in law adds a secret ingredient, ORANGE JUICE! A couple splashes or so should work,it also tenderizes the meat when marinating. She is well known for her shawarma, her recipe is even used at a Arabic restaurant out here in Dearborn, Michigan.
Vicky and Ruth
So interesting and cool. I would have never thought of adding orange juice to the shawarma spice mix. I will definitely try it.
ThatGuy
Darn good Shawarma seasoning recipe.
Had a hankering for that flavor, grabbed some left over chicken the kids will never eat the leftovers of pulled it off to the bone, (took the skin too) and reached for my seasoning only to find I had nearly reached the last of it some time ago. Quick Google landed me here. It's funny every time I refill that jar I'm pretty sure it's a different recipe. Haven't come across one yet that's been anything other than delicious. Only had half the needed paprika, so threw in a tbsp of sweet ancho chili powder.
Put a pot on low heat, poured in some sesame oil, put the chicken in, ground some salt, 2 tbsp of shawarma seasoning, a sprinkle of brown sugar and mixed it up and let it soak up the flavor, mooshed it down, turned up the heat, flipping it now and then till it was all crispy on the outside. Scooped the chicken out with a slotted draining spoon and put it to the side to drain. tossed onions and sweet peppers into the now shawarma flavored sesame oil, cooked them through.
Had a bowl. Good. Got some tahini. Real Good. Put it in a wrap with cheese and hot sauce. Good. Another wrap with tzatziki and feta. Good. Is there anything Shawarma doesn't go great with? I haven't found it.
Robert W Easton
My fave schwarma place is Bar Bar in Beirut, but maybe I can come close in my own kitchen with this spice mix. I don't have a giant rotiss, of course, but sheet pan sliced chicken or meat may do just as well. Veggie options too!!
Rita
Love the suggested vegan choices plus the traditional options. Will definitely try it
Vicky and Ruth
Thank you Rita! Let us know what you think of the Shawarma spice mix, if you do!
Phyllis W
Excellent. Now I do not have to buy already prepared spice mixes that might be older than 6 months old. Thank you so much for this, as well as the other delicious recipes!
Vicky and Ruth
Thank you So much Phyllis!
Margaret
Delicious! I will use it on meat too!
Karen
I have always wanted to make my own shawarma and you have hit the nail on the head. Kudos and Thank you!!!
Vicky and Ruth
Thank you so much Karen!
Mary
So amazingly good!
Vicky and Ruth
It means so much to us that you like it! Thank you!
Ivonne
This is a fantastic Shawarma seasoning and I grew up eating Shawarma!